The New Zealander Robbie Deans, who was last week overlooked by the All Blacks, has became the first foreigner to be appointed as Australia's head coach.

Deans was invited for an interview earlier this week after New Zealand offered Graham Henry a new contract and was offered the job inside 48 hours with a brief to deliver a winning team immediately.

'We are not just looking to the 2011 World Cup,' said the Australian Rugby Union's deputy chief executive, Matt Carroll. 'We want the Tri-Nations and the Bledisloe Cup back. That's why we have got the best coach available.'